New legislation introduced in Scotland to support children with care experience

The Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill which aims to improve services and support for children and young people with care experience has been published today (18 June).

Introduced as part of the Scottish Government’s approach to implement the recommendations of The Promise of the Independent Care Review, the government’s bill makes provision in two areas: the children’s care system and children’s services planning.

The proposed measures include:

• the right to apply for aftercare for young people who left care before their 16th birthday
• introduction of a right to advocacy for children, young people and adults with care experience
• introduction of guidance which promotes an understanding of ‘care’ and ‘care experience’
• limiting the profits that can be made from children’s residential care
• fostering services to register as charities
• provision for a national register for foster carers
• changes to the children’s hearings system; and
• the extension of the statutory responsibility for development of Children Services Plans to Integration Joint Boards.

The Bill and its supporting documents

The Scottish Government news release